VFL

I know this is a strange thread, but I'm curious. My factory keys have the Ford jewel logo on them and have a rubber coating on the plastic part of them. I just purchased some supposedly "OEM" PATS keys on eBay that look similar, however the keys are just plastic and not coated. They still have the Ford logo on them. Are these how they come now, or is it possible I bought fake ones? It's no big deal as long as they work, I'm just curious.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

mine are plastic coated...08 orig owner..

VFL

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

Mod (Ret.)

My 2007 keys are the black hard plastic (originals).

My 2005 were also black hard plastic (originals).

bourgeois1269

>same here<

VFL

Mine originals (2004) where rubberized, almost like the grip texture on some hand tools. Ford must have only used them one year.

Mod (Ret.)

The chip that is read by the PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System) is in the head of the key. Maybe Ford determined that the rubber that was used did not offer protection of this chip, and therefore started using a hard coated plastic instead?

VFL

That's a possibility. Could have had something to do with a vendor change as well. I know they changed from 40 bit keys to 80 bit sometime after 2004. Maybe the manufacturer of the 80 bit keys just didn't do that. My originals do feel nicer than the plastic ones, but eh, a key is a key!

VFL

Well the keys are knock offs. They appeared genuine, but the plastic part fell apart in the locksmith's cutting machine. Lesson learned, never buy "OEM" Ford keys from ebay, because it's too good to be true.

majerus

Both of my 04 keys are.